Here's how you can build robust financial reporting skills at the start of your Corporate Finance career.

-Understand Financial Statements: Start with the foundational financial statements—balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement. -Familiarize with GAAP and IFRS: Get to know the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), as these are the frameworks that guide financial reporting. -Grasp Accounting Principles: Learn the fundamental accounting principles such as accrual accounting, matching principle, and revenue recognition to ensure accurate financial reporting. -Basic Financial Metrics: Understand key financial metrics like EBITDA, ROE, ROA, and profit margins which are commonly used in financial reporting and analysis.

Além do profissional procurar se familiarizar com as principais nomenclaturas e linhas de um balanço e de um DRE, o profissional deve procurar entender a origem de cada uma delas. Deve criar e cultivar canais de comunicação com os times de vendas (receita), times de operação (custo), times de desenvolvimento, marketing e demais que compõe as linhas de despesa. Dessa forma, o profissional conseguirá criar melhores narrativas que expliquem os números, e conseguirá antecipar/prever futuras oscilações nos relatórios.

Para desenvolver habilidades robustas de relatórios financeiros no início da carreira em finanças corporativas, é essencial dominar ferramentas como Excel avançado e Power BI. Além disso, é importante entender profundamente os princípios contábeis e as normas de reporte financeiro, bem como considerar certificações como CPA ou CFA para uma base sólida. Praticar a elaboração de relatórios reais ou simulados e buscar feedback de mentores também são passos cruciais. Manter-se atualizado com as tendências e melhores práticas do mercado, assim como desenvolver uma comunicação eficaz para apresentar relatórios de forma clara e concisa, são aspectos fundamentais para o sucesso na área.

About Illustrative Financial Statements/IFRS: One thing which helped me, years back, and I guess is still relevant today, is the Illustrative Financial Statements, published annually by the Industry leaders in Audit(visit their website and download). For instance, each item on the Statement of Financial Position, there are references to notes, and eventually to specific paragraphs from the accounting standards. This helps grasp a better understanding of IFRS, key concepts, key wordings.

Entender os princípios básicos de contabilidade é fundamental para qualquer profissional que deseje desenvolver habilidades robustas em relatórios financeiros no início de sua carreira em finanças corporativas. A familiaridade com GAAP ou IFRS fornece a base necessária para garantir a precisão e a integridade dos dados financeiros apresentados. Além disso, o conhecimento profundo das principais demonstrações financeiras, como o balanço patrimonial, a DRE e a DFC, permite não apenas a compilação precisa dos dados, mas também a capacidade de analisar e interpretar esses números para tomar decisões informadas. Em resumo, um domínio sólido dos fundamentos contábeis é o primeiro passo para se tornar proficiente em relatórios financeiros.

Os dados atualmente, são o petróleo para a tomada de decisão. Estes dados, necessitam de uma interpretação assertiva para conduzir a empresa ao sucesso. Assim, tomo a liberdade de aconselhar inicialmente que todos aprendam as habilidades das estruturas financeiras corporativas e saberem conversar com os números e compreender o que realmente os números estão informando. E passo a passo, atrelado à tecnologia como a inteligência artificial e a preventiva resolução utilizando o sistema logaritmo do machine learning evidenciar o melhor caminho para a tomada de decisão. Não basta compreender, temos que resolver problemas necessários para conduzir a empresa ao sucesso.

Keep up to date on compliance requirements, read and understand GAAP and financial reporting standards. Visuals help tremedously in navigating new issues or anomolies in financial data as well.

-Advanced Functions: Become proficient in Excel functions like VLOOKUP, HLOOKUP, INDEX, MATCH, and pivot tables to handle complex data efficiently. -Financial Modeling: Learn to create financial models, including forecasting and budgeting models, which are essential tools for financial analysis and reporting. -Data Visualization: Use Excel to create clear and informative charts and graphs that help in visualizing financial data and trends. -Macros and VBA: Understanding macros and Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) can significantly enhance your ability to automate repetitive tasks and improve efficiency.

O Excel é sabidamente conhecido como "Sistema Avançado de Planilhas", e possui inúmeras aplicações para os mais diversos fins. Saber usa-lo pressupõe também um conhecimento no tratamento de grandes quantidades de dados estruturados (conceitos como chave primária e conexões de dados, por exemplo) e um bom entendimento de VBA. Para fechar, o cuidado na hora de mostrar um resumo ou o resultado de uma análise é essencial.

Dominar o Microsoft Excel é essencial para qualquer profissional em finanças corporativas. Começar com funções básicas, como PROCV e tabelas dinâmicas, e avançar para recursos mais complexos, como macros e modelagem financeira, permite uma manipulação eficiente de dados e a criação de relatórios claros. Essa proficiência não só melhora a precisão dos cálculos como também facilita a comunicação de informações financeiras de forma concisa e eficaz, tornando-se uma habilidade indispensável para o sucesso na área.

Excel fundamentals are critical in financial reporting, especially at the beginning of your career. I'd recommend exploring a structured course that will allow you to master the basics and apply them in real-world contexts (e.g. Wall Street Prep, CFI) as opposed to an ad-hoc learning method (youtube videos, google searches). Not every organization does financial modeling the same way but having a clear understanding of the core fundamentals will take you far no matter where you go.

Yes, but not enough! You need to go beyond Excel and think out the box! Excel will help you accomplish everything, it is a great tool to manipulate data at the first glance, however, out there are a lots of Tools that can make your life easier (Visualization tools, data extraction tools, etc), there is no need to become an expert on such tools but having a good understanding of them will help you to have an acertive communication with the SME, meaning you will have an great opportunity to automate manual processes saving you time for more analysis. Macros and Power query is the open door to have a wide view of the regular formulas and Pivot Tables.

-Stay Updated: Keep abreast of changes in financial regulations and reporting standards. Regulatory environments can change, and staying informed is critical. -Compliance Requirements: Understand the compliance requirements for financial reporting within your industry to ensure all reports are accurate and meet legal standards. -Audit Processes: Learn about the auditing process and what auditors look for in financial statements. This can help you prepare more accurate and audit-friendly reports. -Internal Controls: Understand the importance of internal controls in financial reporting and how to implement them effectively.

Understanding the industry requirements matters. For instance, in Mauritius, it would make sense to look for the bank of mauritius act, listing rules, to familiarise oneself on the key ratios and reportings required to the central bank, or the timeliness of submission of info.

-Critical Analysis: Develop the ability to critically analyze financial data to identify trends, anomalies, and areas for improvement. -Problem-Solving Skills: Enhance your problem-solving skills to address and rectify discrepancies in financial reports. -Scenario Analysis: Learn to conduct scenario analysis and stress testing to understand the potential impact of different financial situations on the company's performance. -Decision-Making: Use your analytical skills to support strategic decision-making processes by providing insightful and accurate financial information.

One advise I've heard several times in all the companies I've been worked "think as business owner", will start giving you a sense of how the business works, where are my money generators and where my money is flowing how can I create control, KPIs and metrics making me think how all the dot ls are connected!

-Clear Reporting: Develop the ability to present financial data clearly and concisely, whether in written reports or verbal presentations. -Audience Awareness: Tailor your communication to different audiences, ensuring that complex financial information is understandable to non-financial stakeholders. -Stakeholder Engagement: Engage with various stakeholders, including management, investors, and auditors, to discuss and explain financial reports and findings. -Report Writing: Improve your report-writing skills to ensure financial reports are well-structured, informative, and free of jargon, making them accessible to a broader audience.

A saying I remind myself each time I have to present information/reports, you have 30seconds to impress in a meeting, words from my manager. Be direct, be simple, speak the language of all. Financial infomation can be complex, or daunting to non-financial people. Learn your report and present information you are comfortable to present as well as answer queries. For instance, presenting information in a chart can help non-financial people to graps trends in sales. Visual helps.

There are numerous online courses. If you are a member of a professional body, follow their CPD courses, be it free or paid. There are even collaborations with partners for specialist training. The trend these days is machine learning, data science and visualisation, and AI. Consider options to upskill yourself, to improve your own productivity. Couple of years back, I joined an organisation where consolidation/group accounts was being done on excel, with manual input. Through networking, and a bit of past experience, we shifted to using an industry leading consolidation tool.

Comprometer-se com a aprendizagem contínua é vital para manter habilidades de relatórios financeiros afiadas. No cenário dinâmico das finanças corporativas, novas tecnologias e metodologias surgem constantemente. Participar de oportunidades de desenvolvimento profissional, estabelecer contatos e buscar orientação permite a exposição às melhores práticas e técnicas inovadoras. Essa dedicação ao aprendizado garante que suas habilidades permaneçam relevantes e avançadas, posicionando-o para o sucesso em sua carreira.

Get in the habit of reading other companies financial statements and audit reports, especially if they are within your industry. You can even calculate different ratios and KPIs to start benchmarking. Public companies and large not-for-profits usually have their readily available. So, do your research to expand your knowledge and perspective about financial reporting.

Financial reporting isn't just about numbers. 1. **Start with Why:** Understand the purpose behind financial reports. 2. **Master the Basics:** Before you run, learn to walk. Excel, accounting principles, and financial statement analysis are your ABCs. 3. **Automate to Innovate:** Embrace technology. Tools like QuickBooks, Xero, or advanced Excel functions can automate mundane tasks, freeing you to focus on analysis and strategy. 4. **Learn from the Best:** Seek mentors and role models. 5. **Practice Makes Perfect:** Apply your skills in real-world scenarios.

Building robust financial reporting skills at the start of your Corporate Finance career is crucial for long-term success. Start by mastering the basics: gain a strong understanding of financial statements, learn to analyze key metrics, and develop proficiency in Excel. Seek mentorship from seasoned professionals and embrace continuous learning—stay updated on industry trends and new tools. Always prioritize accuracy, clarity, and timeliness in your reports. By fostering these habits early, you'll establish a solid foundation that will set you apart as a top FP&A professional in the corporate world.

Reading and understanding financial statements: A company’s financial Each contains vital information about the business’s financial health. Calculating key ratios: Ratio analysis involves calculating one metric’s ratio to another. This allows you to compare metrics across periods and organizations, because circumstantial factors are eliminated. Data storytelling: Analyzing financial statements is just the beginning of financial analysis; you also need to effectively communicate the story the data tells and propose actionable insights. Big-picture thinking: Financial analysis isn’t just for comparing your organization’s past and present performance; it’s also about comparing it to broader market